Snow making machine for ski trails and the like



D. RICHARDS May 26, 1970 SNOW MAKING MACHINE FOR SKI TRAILS AND THE LIKEFiled Dec. 19, 1968 IN VEIVZ'OA OEXIZUQ RICA/14,4906

United States Patent 3,513,906 SNOW MAKING MACHINE FOR SKI TRAILS ANDTHE LIKE Dexter Richards, Fernwood Point, Sunapee, NH. 03782 Filed Dec.19, 1968, Ser. No. 785,187 Int. Cl- F25b 29/00 U.S. Cl. 165-30 5 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A maintenance apparatus and motor vehicle fortransporting liquid and for processing said liquid into snow for use inreplenishing the snow covering for bare spots or worn areas found on aski slope or other winter sports area, said motor vehicle having a tracktype chassis with a drivers cab mounted thereon, said maintenanceapparatus being mounted on said vehicle chassis and comprising powermeans for compressor and pump means and electric generator, electricheating means for the prevention of freezing of the snow making liquidprior to ejection; electric control means for operation of saidapparatus; an insulated storage tank for liquid used in making snow;hose means having separate channels therein for air and said liquid; thesaid hose having one end attached to said apparatus and the other endattached to an aspirating snow gun spray nozzle, said nozzle havingmounted thereon a mixing chamber and flow control switches for air andliquid, said hose being of sufficient length to permit the operator ofthe nozzle to reach all parts of the repair area.

BACKGROUND Field of invention This invention relates to the art ofmaking snow for use on winter sports areas where snow is required, suchas a ski slope. The snow is made through the use of apparatus forsimulating the action of nature in producing natural snow when thetemperature is below freezing and natural snow is not forthcoming.

Description of prior alt The prior art apparatus used in the snow makingart of which applicant is familiar is best shown in the Pierce Pat. No.2,676,471 for making and distributing snow on a ski slope where theapparatus is located near a water source and consists of a water pumpand an air compressor. Separate pipe lines are connected to said pumpand compressor and are laid on the slope with valve takeotfs at variouspoints on said slope for connection to a manifold type distributor withnozzle outlets for the snow forming spray. The Pierce portable trailerunit uses substantially the same apparatus having a water pump and anair compressor mounted on the top of a water tank with distributingfeatures that are somewhat the same as in the slope apparatus.

SUMMARY In contrast with the prior art in the maintenance apparatus andvehicle field used in replenishing snow for the repair of ski slopes andother winter sports, the present invention avoids the disadvantagesfound in such art in the following respects, among others: Themaintenance apparatus and vehicle combination of the present inventionprovides advantage of a complete self-contained unit for making anddistributing snow at the place where snow is required for a satisfactoryuse of the winter sports area. Another advantage is that the problem offreezing is removed from the snow making liquid and the con- 3,513,906Patented May 26, 1970 densate in the air lines prior to the ejectionthereof at the nozzle. Another advantage is that the nozzle has electriccontrol switches mounted thereon for control of the liquid and airduring operation of the apparatus and nozzle. Still another advantage isthat the apparatus is efficient in use of apparatus and the amount ofliquid required for operation.

Other advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing will appear inthe following description and the accompanying drawings of theinvention.

THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated in the drawings in whichconventional parts are omitted or merely indicated to clarify thespecification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle with the apparatus of theinvention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus within its housing and thearrangement of the various parts; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the hose lines and shownpartly in section.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The maintenance apparatus and vehiclecombination and the machine parts associated therewith is illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. The various important units of theapparatus are shown in FIG. 2 after being assembled and mounted in ahousing frame shown as a line drawing to make more clear the location ofthe said units. FIG. 1 shows the apparatus associated with the saidhousing mounted on the chassis of a track type vehicle particularlyadapted for snow or ice covered terrain and shows the liquid storagetank of the combination mounted on said vehicle chassis between thevehicle cab and, said apparatus housing. FIG. 3 shows in detail theunique hose assembly used to carry the liquid and air to the mixing andejecting nozzle unit.

It will be seen that the combination of the invention and componentparts thereof comprise the following major units: a track type motorvehicle A, a storage tank B, the maintenance apparatus and its housing Cand a hose and distribution system D.

The said track type motor vehicle A includes a chassis 10, a cab 11mounted on said chassis 10 and caterpillar type endless belt treads 12.Also included therein and mounted on said chassis 10 but not shown inthe drawing area: a motor vehicle type engine and accessories therefor,a transmission and drive unit connected to said engine and drive wheelsfor moving said caterpillar treads 12, a steering system and anelectrical system.

The said storage tank B has a tank section 15 preferably insulated. Thetank section 15 has an opening 1 6 in its top wall with a tubular filterneck 17 afiixed to the periphery of said opening 16 and containingfilters for filtering the liquid solution as it is poured into the tanksection 15. A storage tank having a capacity of approximately gallonshas been found to be satisfactory. Preferably the said storage tank 15has a bottom wall slightly conical in a downward direction and having apipe connection opening in the apex of said wall for better drainage onslope side operation.

The said maintenance apparatus and housing C may be assembled in ahousing 20 preferably of metal panel sections with support frames (notshown) for mounting the various parts of said apparatus therein andhaving one side panel section 21 serving as an instrument panel for suchapparatus.

Mounted within said housing 20 are an engine 22 preferably of thepropane fuel type, a compressor 23 powered by said engine 22, acompressed air storage tank 24 having a pipe (not shown) connected tosaid compressor 23, a pump 25 powered by said engine 22 and having apipe on the suction side thereof connected to said pipe connection ofthe liquid storage tank 15 and an electric generator 26 powered by saidengine and a 12 volt DC battery 26A.

Mounted on said side panel 21 outer Wall are a fuel tank 27 having apipe connected to the carburetor (not shown) of said engine, a duplexgauge 28, a voltmeter 29, an air pipe coupling 30 having a pipe (notshown) connected to said air tank 24, a liquid pipe coupling 31 having apipe (not shown) connected to the pressure side of said pump 25, anelectrical receptacle 32 having wires connected to said generator 26, anelectrical receptacle 33 having wires connected to said 12 volt DCbattery 26A and to the magnetic clutch of the pump 25 and to a solenoidtype valve in the liquid pipe line connected to said pump 25, and anelectrical receptacle 34 having wires connected to said 12 volt DCbattery 26A and to a solenoid type valve in the compressed air pipe linefrom the air tank 24.

The hose and distribution system D includes a hose 40 connecting saidliquid storage tank 15 and said pump 25, a distribution hose 41 carryingair and liquid and an aspirating type snowgun IlOZZlc 42 having a liquidand air mixing chamber 43 affixed to the end 44 of the hose 41.

The said distribution hose 41 has included therein a liquid hose 45 andan air hose 46 in separate channels, an electrical heating tape 47spirally wrapped around said liquid hose 40 and 45 and air hose 46 andconnected to said receptacle 32, an electrical liquid control circuit 48and an electrical air control circuit 49, said electrical liquid controlcircuits 48 and 49 being connected to a button control switch 50 mountedon said nozzle 42 and being connected to the electrical receptacles 33and 34 on said panel to acuate a clutch solenoid attached to said pump25 and to acuate a solenoid valve in the air line from the air tank 24.

The said liquid hose 45 is connected to said liquid pipe coupling 31 andto said nozzle 42 adjacent said mixing chamber 43 and the said air hose46 is connected to said air pipe coupling 30 and to said nozzle 42adjacent said mixing chamber 43.

A standby electrical receptacle may be added to the said electricalheating circuit for connection to an external source such as a linecurrent for use 'when the engine 22 is not in operation to preventfreezing of the liquid in the hose lines 40 and 41.

It has been found that a water supply devoid of minerals is best suitedfor use in making snow and that the addition of a chemical foaming agentto the water that will cause the water to foam upon its ejection fromthe nozzle into the ambient air will give superior results.

A protein chemical foaming agent of the type that will not injure thevegetation in the area has been found to be satisfactory for use.One-half to one percent of the volume of water in the tank 15 is asufiicient amount of chemical to be added for satisfactory results.

The foregoing description of the maintenance apparatus and vehicle showsthat it is a complete and self-contained unit that may be moved to anyarea of a ski slope or winter sports area where snow is required andthat snow would be made and distributed as desired by the operation ofthe nozzle 42 in air temperatures that range from approximately 30 F. toat least 30 F. below zero.

In operation the liquid solution for making snow is first placed in thetank 15 and the engine 22 is started to operate the air compressor 23 tocreate an air pressure of approximately 110 p.s.i. in the air tank 24for use in the operation of the apparatus.

The track type vehicle with the maintenance apparatus mounted thereon isthen moved under its own power to a position adjacent the area to becovered with snow. The operator, after leaving the cab 11, unlimbersfrom the vehicle so much of the distribution hose 41 as seems desirableand with the nozzle '42 pointed toward the area to be snow coveredcloses the button switch 50 adjacent the rear of the nozzle 42. Theclosing of said switch 50 actuates the solenoid in said circuit 48 whichopens the valve in the solution pipeline between the pump 25 and tank 15and also closes the pump clutch between the engine 22 and the pump 25 tostart the operation of said pump. The pump as stated draws liquidsolution from the tank 15 on its suction side and forces the liquidsolution into the hose 41 under pressure on its discharge side. Thepressure of the liquid solution in the hose 41 should be approximatelyp.s.i. to equal the pressure in the air tank 24. The closing of thebutton switch 50 also actuates the solenoid which opens the valve in theair pipeline in said circuit 49.

It will be seen that when the button switch 50 has been closed the pump25 will start operating and forcing the liquid under pressure throughthe hose 41 and the compressed air from the air tank 24 will beginflowing through the hose 41. The liquid and air will flow into themixing chamber 43 where such liquid and air will be mixed. The mixedliquid and air will then pass into the aspirating nozzle 42 Where themixture will receive additional air having a temperature below freezing.Thus the said mixture as it is ejected from the nozzle 42 will have theproper temperature below freezing to form snow without delay.

Although the foregoing description is necesarily of detailed character,in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to beunderstood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various arrangements of parts andmodifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A maintenance apparatus and vehicle therefor for making snowcomprising:

(a) a motor vehicle having a track type chassis, a

drivers cab mounted thereon,

(b) an insulated storage tank for liquid used in making snow, removablymounted on said chassis,

(c) a maintenance apparatus housing removably mounted on said chassisadjacent said storage tank,

(d) the said maintenance apparatus mounted in said housing comprising:an internal combustion engine and control means therefor, an aircompressor and a liquid solution pump and an electric generator poweredby said engine, a 12 volt DC battery,

an air tank having an air pipeline connected to said air compressor, aliquid solution carrying hose pipeline with temperature control heatingmeans therefor connected to said pump and said storage tank, an electriccircuit control means for said pump and liquid solution hose pipelineand an electric circuit control means for said air pipeline connected tosaid battery and an electric circuit heating means electricallyconnected to said generator,

(e) a side wall of said housing serving as an instrument panel for saidapparatus mounted in said housing, (f) said instrument panel includingan engine fuel tank with a fuel pipeline connection to said engine, anair and liquid duplex pressure gauge, a voltmeter, an electric circuitcontrol receptacle for said air pipeline, an air pipeline coupling and aliquid pipeline coupling, the said instruments having connections to therespective units of apparatus associated therewith,

(g) a dual pipeline distribution hose having separate channels for saidliquid solution and air under pressure, temperature control electricheating means for said distribution hose, said hose channels connectedat one end to said liquid solution and air couplings on said instrumentpanel, an aspirating type snow gun nozzle having a liquid and air mixingchamber adjacent its base, separate connections in said nozzle base forsaid liquid solution and air channels of said distribution hose, and

(h) said dual pipeline distribution hose carrying said electric circuitcontrol means for said liquid solution and air pipelines to said nozzleand a control center on said nozzle for said electric control means forsaid liquid solution and air pipelines.

2. The maintenance apparatus defined in claim 1 in which the temperaturecontrol electrical heating means for said hose pipeline connecting saidstorage tank and pump and said dual pipeline distribution hose is anelectrical heating tape spirally wrapped around said pipelines.

3. The maintenance apparatus defined in claim 1 in which the saidelectric circuit control means for said pump and liquid solutionpipeline is a solenoid actuated clutch for said pump and a solenoidactuated valve in said pipeline with wiring therefor to said controlcenter means on said nozzle.

4. The maintenance apparatus defined in claim 3 in which said electriccircuit control means for said air pipeline is a solenoid activatedvalve in said pipeline with wiring therefor to said control center meanson said nozzle.

5. The maintenance apparatus defined in claim 4 in which said controlcenter means on said nozzle is a [button actuated electric switch forsaid electric circuit control for said liquid solution pipeline and abutton actuated electric switch for said electric circuit control forsaid air pipeline.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,676,471 4/ 1954 'Pierce 622602,968,164 1/1961 Hanson 62 -74 3,146,951 9/ 1964 Brown 6274 ROBERT A.OLEARY, Primary Examiner C. SUKALO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.62--74

